The nursery rhyme thing seems like a good idea, the sad fact that I
dont know many probably wont help, but perhaps make me more objective. I
have been thinking about rhymes and childrens stories, and they seem to
follow the same basic concepts and patterns as adult novels. It actually
makes me wonder though. Most stories and rhymes, seem to start with a
protagonist then lead to an object of desire (person or thing) and a
problem of attaining it (antogonist or challenge). It seem to mimic
basic need fulfilment. Love is usually the motivator, violence is
usually the fear motivation. For children, the fear isnt just death, its
usually more like being eaten, or cursed. Also, there is a strong "Do
what your parents say" theme.
At any rate, I will participate in dissection of such rhymes and stories
if you are still interested.
Sodom
Bill Roh
B. Lane Robertson wrote:
> I assume that nursery rhymes are one of the best
> examples of a particular type of meme (memes that
> relate to oral tradition). Still, upon writing
> this I find myself wondering how to describe the
> nursery rhyme as an *example* of a meme rather
> than saying that they *are* the meme. Though my
> point is that the organization of ideas according
> to patterns which evolve and are replicated might
> be expressed in a very succinct fashion in such a
> form-- which stresses organization, patterns,
> evolution, and being passed on.
>
> Does someone want to do a study of the basic ideas
> transmitted by nursery rhymes and the patterns
> these ideas are organized into, noting the
> evolution of such patterns and their propensity to
> being passed on (in specific situations)? I think
> such a study would give a good indication of what,
> exactly, the basic ideas and patterns might be.
>
> To give Wade the benefit of a doubt, I am not
> opposed to saying that these "patterns" would ALSO
> be in evidence in the organization of neural
> networks, brainwave patterns, and even physical
> structures. (Yes, I am saying that brains would
> be organized into "nursery rhyme" patterns. If
> this were shown to be possible, what else could we
> attribute this to EXCEPT memes?).
>
> B. Lane Robertson
> Indiana, USA
> http://www.window.to/mindrec
> Bio: http://members.theglobe.com/bretthay
> See who's chatting about this topic:
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>
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